1. Choose a venue that speaks for itself, so you don’t have to bring in much decor to work against ugly carpeting and draping.

2. Avoid a tented wedding. Tents are not inexpensive and you will end up incurring many costs (bathroom trailer, generator, flooring, etc.) that you wouldn’t at a venue.

3. When it comes to stationery, the sky is the limit as far as budget goes. Try to focus on a unique design versus paper quality, as guests will remember the initial design and not whether or not the paper stock was thick.

4. Don’t break the bank on your wedding dress that you will only wear once. Once Wed is a great resource for gently used designer gowns. You can also buy a super chic white gown that isn’t a wedding dress per se at places like Saks, Net a Porter, or Shopbop.